More good news: Economy Foils Advocate for Immigrants

From The Wall Street Journal:

This was supposed to be a golden moment for Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a longtime champion of revamping U.S. immigration laws. The new administration had pledged during the election campaign to overhaul the get-tough policy pushed by Republicans.

Instead, rising unemployment and fears of economic dislocation have put immigration off limits for President Barack Obama. Mr. Gutierrez, a Democrat from the president's hometown of Chicago, now finds himself leading a charge against the prevailing political winds.

"To put reform back on President Obama's radar screen, we are galvanizing faith-based communities and telling stories of the devastating effects of the current immigration policy on families," Mr. Gutierrez said. "Most Americans are appalled that a mother would be separated from her children."

Event organizers are gathering signatures that Mr. Gutierrez, who is chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' immigration task force, plans to deliver to Mr. Obama.

Congress twice declined to pass a comprehensive immigration bill during the Bush administration, amid deep divisions over how to deal with 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

Mr. Gutierrez, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, has pushed for immigration changes since winning a House seat in 1993 to represent a Chicago district with a large Mexican population. Recounting several exchanges with the president, Mr. Gutierrez said, "We understand that the president has a lot of advisers, none who are telling him to deal with this issue. We have to counterbalance."